The Essence of Life

Originally written April 30, 2002 - by Shonda Ponder

Today, I realized what has been missing in my life for the past few years. I only feel the need to share this with others because my guess is that others have been missing it, too. It really isn't important unless you need an upbeat daily dose of attitude, or a slow dose of nostalgia accompanied by memories that you forgot you had. What is it I am talking about? What could possibly cause this overwhelming desire to share what I have found to be missing from my life?

Music.

Music is the essence of life. Whether you like Rock-n-roll, Country, or slow rock -- which is more commonly referred to by my significant other as "progressive elevator music". He likes the head-banging kind, which might explain the times when I think he's been hit on the head one too many times. Of course, that could also be due to my incessant desire to wallow in self-pity over all my failures. Which brings me back to the subject of music.

Today I turned on the radio after he went to work. After about five minutes of listening to "Redneck Girl" by the Bellamy Brothers, I found myself picturing my daddy's big green hunk of junk that I used to drive to the store when he was too tired to go buy his own pack of cigarettes. Of course, today that would be impossible with all the "spy on your neighbor" laws that require the store clerk to ask for your identity before purchasing such items. Didn't matter that I wasn't buying them for me, or that my dad sent me to the store to get them. (Not that I didn't purchase them for myself at an early age, anyway).

Then there was the modified, "Do you think Hank really did it this way?" (which I don't know who sings now, having been out of the music loop for so long. The name "Hank" has been replaced by "Waylon" -- probably because Waylon wrote the song. I remembered my daddy with his guitar, as he picked out a tune with Cousin Thurman and Uncle Adrian. I found myself turning the radio up to the tune of "You don't have to call me Darlin", trying to drown out the voices of my Daddy and Uncle Adrian in the memorized background.

I started to cry when I heard "Voices in wind" and thought of my step-momma Jeanie as she stood in the kitchen over a hot stove singing, "Oh Lord, won't you buy be a mercedes benz" and then turning on the 8-track player with "A good-hearted woman" when daddy would go out on Thursday nights to play in the local pool tournaments. Jeanie was like a sister to me. We used to share each other's clothes, and sit up until two or three in the morning watching The Nashville Network, even before they finally caught up on the bills enough to buy their first colored television. I was a senior in high school by the time that happened.

In the end, when my significant other returned home from work, I found myself turning off the radio and somehow feeling better having had the chance to enjoy something that has been missing for what seems like forever.

We sing our babies to sleep with it. We hum it while we work. Music is embedded in our hearts and minds with a fervor that follows us until the day we die. People who do not appreciate music are often seen as "non-cultured" and lacking in social talent. It can only be due to the fact that the sound of music communicates with the soul, and it should not be left out of a well-balanced life.

Music, indeed, is the essence of life.

Out of the mouths of babes

by Shonda Ponder
(originally written on July 29, 2001)

My 10-year-old was home-schooled until he was sent to live with his father last year due to some "financial hard times" that had come upon myself--making me fear for his safety and health. During the past year I have hoped, and prayed fervently, that he would not "unlearn" all I have tried to teach him, since he is now being sent to a public school (albeit in a small town), and not knowing how much importance his father would place on his growing mind.

For the last month or so, he has been returned to me for visitation (I have joint custody with his father), so I have had a chance to "feel him out" to make sure that he is doing "okay" and to check to see if there were any errors entered into his brain's programming that I needed to fix.

Upon having nice long conversations with him of an intellectual nature, I was relieved to know that his father was doing wonderfully at encouraging his intellect, despite the fact that he is no longer being home-schooled. I was bothered at one point because someone (not his father) had mentioned to him that he was much too young to think as intelligently as he thinks. I immediately told him that if God had not wished him to be as smart as he was, that He would not have given him the capacity to learn as much as he has learned. My son, thought about that for a moment, then said, "Okay. Good point."

During my visit with my son, it was made known to me that he wishes to grow up to be a scientist. His field of interest right now is "Spontaneous Human Combustion". He is reading every bit of material he can get his hands on about the subject. I immediately gave him access to my encyclopedias (and, I sent them home with him, when it was time, as well).
Our visit ended on Saturday, July 28th. So, we had to make a 400 mile trip to take him back home to his father so he could prepare him for the school year, which is to start in a couple of weeks.

I am always looking for ways in which to stimulate his thinking habits. Many times, I do this as a game, and he learns without even knowing that I am teaching him. His brain is like a computer--I learned this when he was barely old enough to communicate verbally. Everything he sees, hears, touches, and experiences is like software to him. So, having made this observation, I experimented with his mind, and taught him how to think. Every moment with him is spent "writing his programs". Every word that is spoken from him is a "test" of how well I have done my job. I have worked hard to create a success-bound character out of him.

And, as a result, today, the last words I spoke to him before returning him to his father were honestly, "Son, I am very proud of you."

On the long trip to return him to his father, I desparately tried to find ways not to think about being without him again. He is my pride and my joy. I teach him that he is special. I tell him that he doesn't have to be like everyone else when they do or say things that are not right. I teach him to ask questions in order to figure out how to create his own point of view. I have also taught him about God, and taught him (and showed him examples) of how, sometimes, man's laws differ.

Trying to soothe my breaking heart at having to let him go again, I decided to try to stimulate, and test his mind once again. This time, I wanted to do something different, and I wondered if he was up to the task.

Knowing that he wants to be a scientist, and wanting to introduce him, somehow, to the political nature of science, I said, "Son, do you know who our president is?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said. "George Bush."

"Well, President Bush right now is trying to decide whether or not to fund a certain type of scientific research. The people in the government right now are debating whether or not they should give scientists the money to continue doing stem-cell research." I said. "What do you think?"

He thought for a moment then asked, "What are stem-cells?"

I explained to him that they were the base components that all tissue in the human body is derived from. I told him that stem-cell research could theoretically help save lives in the future by providing new cells where old cells have been damaged or lost, such as in cancer.

Then he asked me, "What's wrong with that?"

I said, "Nothing. The debate is mainly over where they are getting the stem-cells from, and whether the government should support the research because of it." Which led to,

"Where do they get the stem-cells from?"

I had to answer this question carefully, because I did not want to influence his point of view in any way. So I answered it as best I could like this:

"Scientists can get stem-cells from humans, but not enough humans donate the amount of stem-cells needed for the research. Another alternative is to get them from a baby's umbilical cord, which is donated to science after the birth of a child. The umbilical cord is what attaches the baby to the mother while it is growing inside the mother's womb. But, again, not a lot of people think to donate the umbilical cords, either. So, scientists now are creating embryos in laboratories and getting the stem-cells from the embryos."
He thought about that for a moment then said, "What is an embryo?"

I explained to him that mothers have egg cells and fathers have sperm cells, and sometimes they donate these to science. When an egg and a sperm come together, it creates an embryo, which becomes a fetus, which becomes a baby, which becomes a child, and finally becomes an adult human being. I told him that some people believed that embryos were just a bunch of cells that are clumped together, and that it is okay to use embryos because it isn't alive.

"Does it grow?" he asked.

"Yes." I answered, restating that it becomes a fetus, etc.

"What do the scientists do with the embryos after they get the stem-cells?"

I explained to him that when all the stem-cells are taken from the embryo, that they discard the embryo.

"You mean, like, throw it away--because it won't grow?"

I said, "Yes."

"And, you are asking me if I think that the president should help the scientists by giving money to them so they can keep doing this?"

Again, I said, "Yes."

At this point, he surprised me by saying, "Can I think about this for a minute?"

I said, "Of course."

The conversation became quiet, and except for the hum of the car motor and the classic rock music faintly sounding on the radio speakers, I didn't pursue it for awhile, patiently anticipating his answer.

After what seemed like fifteen minutes he finally spoke up and said, "Mom?"

"Yes?"

"You say that embryos grow to become fetuses, right?"

I said, "Yes. That is what I said."

"Okay, let me think some more..."

Again, all was quiet for what seemed like another fifteen minutes. At this point he spoke up and said, "Mom?"

Again, I said, "Yes?"

I heard him take in a deep breath, and then he said, "I've thought about it, and I think the answer should be no."

"No, what?"

"No, I don't think the scientist should be using the embryos like that."

Of course, my next question was, "Why do you think that?"

"Well," he explained, "You said that an embryo is just a bunch of cells, right? But, you also said that it grows, and that the embryo, if it were left to grow, would become a human being right?"

I said, "Yes."

"Then, the scientists are really, actually, killing baby human beings. And killing human beings is wrong, isn't it?"

The Christian part of me wanted to jump up and down and hug him and say, "YES!!!!!!"

The mother in me wanted to shout, "I am SOOOO proud of you!"

But, the teacher in me only smiled, relieved at the fact that should he ever be able to make his dream of one day becoming a scientist a reality, that he is completely capable of making moral and ethical decisions.

Dirty

by Shonda Ponder
(originally written in April, 2000)

I didn't want to feel dirty
As I came to God that day
For all I'd done to forsake Him
And go my merry way

I knew that I had been wrong
And that there was no hope
Except that He forgive me
And give me strength to cope

Every sin I'd sinned
Every law I'd broken
Out of selfish hypocrisy
I ignored the words He'd spoken

And now I felt alone
And now I felt betrayed
But who was I to blame?
By myself I knelt and prayed

O, Lord, can you forgive me?
Can you hold me once again?
And can you help those others
That I'd taken from your plan?

Can you bless and keep us,
and bring us all back home
And give us hope again
Where before this there was none?

Have I been so wrong
That you have let me fall
Will you grab my hand
And let me feel your call?

I am but human, Lord
I am weak and frail
But with you I have strength
Without you I have failed

Lord, I walked away
Knowing I was wrong
And now I beg forgiveness
I know where I belong

And as I sat there hoping
And wondering if I'd done right
I felt a warm familiar cover
A soft array of light

That said, "I have not left you
Nor have I let you down
It was you who chose
To give away your crown

I know that you are hurting
Lost and so afraid
And now I am here waiting
To hold the child I made

I did not forget you
Nor did I let you go
My love reached out to you
As I watched you grow

And now you ask forgiveness
You want to come back home
I have a feast here waiting
And we won't eat alone

I began to cry
As I ran into his arms
How can I make it up
To all those I have harmed?

He wiped away my tears
And broke my heart of stone
And then He said, "In time,
They too will come back home."

The American Dream - Defined

What IS the American Dream? I used to think it was a child's ambition to grow up, own a home, own a business, be a parent, and be able to bless our communities.

As I got older, I began to see the American Dream as nothing more than the "Pursuit of Happiness". Pursuit. Meaning: Always out of our reach, but yet having the opportunity reach.

The truth is, without the American Dream -- however you define it -- the average citizen would never find him/herself in a better situation than the day before.

Today, I live hand-to-mouth. But, I thank God it is in America, where I have a hand to put to my mouth.

In response to Rosie's "smear"

Killing babies has nothing to do with women's rights. I'm all for getting paid the same for doing the same job. I'm all for having the same opportunities. I'm all for not being seen or used as a sex object. Killing a baby is not going to make any of that happen.

If anything, all it does is make me look like a vicious killer.

Woe to He Who Says "Woe Is Me"

I think it's funny when someone describes me as "self-righteous" just because I post a different point of view on the comments section of someone else's post. After all, if they didn't want to hear people's opinions of what they post, why did they post it? And then, to top it off, they accuse ME of wanting attention? LOL

I post a lot of stuff I know other people may find offensive because it's ME. But, the only time I have ever used the block button or became really angry at someone on my own timeline is when they post pornographic stuff, or use name-calling and attacks against me because they don't like it.

I am a staunch conservative, and a Christian to boot. I expect "The World" to disagree with me. As a Patriotic American, I welcome that disagreement, as long as it is respectful. I won't put up with being called names or threatened for my beliefs on my timeline, and I don't do it on someone else's, but I will say what I think, because God didn't intend for His children to sit down and be quiet, only to stand firm and wait.

One of the things I can't stand is a whiner -- someone who constantly complains about the cards they are dealt in life. If you don't like where you are or what you have to put up with, change it. YOU DO have the power. And, if you can't, then ACCEPT it and understand that GOD KNOWS BEST. Period.

I can't stand people who use their past as a crutch in order to excuse the actions they do today. The past is GONE. There is no excuse for bad behavior. A former drug user who wants to whine about the crap he went through yesterday, or what he is going through today because of it needs to stop whining about and learn from the experience and instead of saying things like, "You don't understand what I've gone through..." start saying, "That's not who I am NOW and I can PROVE it."

Start whining about how you are because you used drugs, and I can tell you how I am and why I won't tolerate addicts anymore. Simple as that.

I don't feel sorry for anyone who wants to stay down and out because of decisions they made in the past. I made some pretty bad decisions myself, but my life is wonderful now; and, it's not because I got lucky.

If you want something bad enough, you have to be the change. Simple as that.

JMHO.

And, by the way, a FRIEND is one that tells you the truth; not someone who will enable your "woe is me" attitude.

Today's Prayer: Thanking God for My Salvation

Dear Lord,

I thank you for your son, whom you sent to die on the cross for my sins. I thank you that it has cleansed me and, each day, gives me a fresh start to do better. I know I can never obtain perfection, but I am thankful that You knew that first, and felt that I was worthy to make such a sacrifice for.

I understand that I am only righteous through Him who suffered for me, and I seek to live a life that glorifies You. I know I will still stumble at times, but I thank You that the nails that held Him to that tree are sufficient to hold Him to me.

I pray that the cleansing flow never stops in my life.

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen

NO KING BUT KING JESUS

I've been seeing lots of posts for a new Constitutional Convention. While I agree that improvements are still in order for the old Constitution (we should go back to the beginning and start over with the foundation of the original Constitution), I am careful to promote this, because I've learned through experience to be careful what you ask for.

I've come to the conclusion that Man has no power to improve on anything. And, if you really want to improve this country, God should be brought back into it. If this were to happen, this country would be blessed like no other country on earth ever was and ever will be. But, the pride of men will bring us down.

I thank God that, as a Christian, I do not have to live under the law of any country that goes against His law. My home is not here, on this earth. And, if by not following the laws set before me by the government that is here, I am sent home, I would be grateful. THIS is temporary.

And, I will live thus.

NO KING BUT KING JESUS!

Bag of Money for Father's Day

I promised my step-dad some peanut butter fudge (made by me) for Father's day. He jokingly said, "Bring me a bag of dollar bills with that fudge."

So, I went to the store and bought some fake money. Then, I went by the liquor store to get a small paper sack.

It is late, and the store is about to close. I get to the counter and say, "Give me a small paper sack." The new guy behind the counter looks at me odd and gets a small paper sack. Then, to my surprise, he starts filling it up with money.

I asked him, "What are you doing?"

"Giving you a small paper sack."

"Yeah, but why are you filling it with money?"

"You might shoot me if I don't."

"I don't have a gun. I just wanted a small sack. Period. No money."

"Oh!!!!" He looked embarrassed. Then said, "You might better leave before the cops get here, then."

Sigh. The cops drove up right then. One of them came in after a few moments, with his gun drawn. The guy said, "It was a mistake. She just wanted a small paper sack. No money. I was here by myself. I was paranoid I guess."

I said, "NO DOUBT! I promise I wasn't trying to hold up a liquor store!"

The cop stopped for a few moments and then called the other guy in and told him what the cashier told him, and the other cop began to question me:

"You were just getting a paper sack?"

"Yes, sir."

"You had no intention of holding up the store?"

"No, sir."

"You don't have a weapon of any kind?"

"No, sir. I'm not even carrying a purse."

"What did you want the sack for?"

Oh, man. how was I gonna tell him I wanted to give my step-dad a bag of dollar bills for Father's Day?

(this IS NOT A TRUE STORY. I JUST THOUGHT WITH ALL THE CURRENT PARANOIA GOING AROUND, IT FIT. I started thinking, "what if..." LOL I thought I'd share... I read this to my step dad today to explain why he didn't get his bag of dollar bills. He totally enjoyed it!)

Facing the Devil

Have you ever had a day when you KNOW you did everything right, but yet you feel persecuted, attacked, stepped on, driven to your limitations? That's the kind of day I had yesterday. And, try as I could, I could not get rid of that sense of dread that overwhelmed me. It's the feeling that you have when you know you are going to have to go through more tribulation in your life as you try to gain a foot-hold again to stand on your own.

Guess I should have seen it all coming. I mean, things have been so good for so long, and now the devil is attacking with a vengence and I am about to fall. The thing is, even though I may fall, I won't be falling down this time. I will be falling into the arms of my Jesus. He's going to be all I have. If I fall, I will lose everything but Him. My dogs, my car, my home -- everything I have worked so hard to maintain.

I'm going to start looking for that open door right now. I am going to need it. Soon. My life is about to change. Again. But, whereever I end up, I know without a doubt it will be where Jesus puts me.

I am praising my God through this valley of darkness that has overwhelmed me. As it envelops me, I am looking at that candle that is sitting on top of that hill that I am climbing. I am praying that The Father reaches down and grabs hold of my hand and, on my knees, I am standing tall as I give it all to Him.

That sounds like a song in the making...

He's the only one who can handle this. I have done figured out that I don't know how.

Pray for me.

I praise Jesus, because I KNOW He has felt this way before. He understands what I am going through. HE understands why. And, HE knows it isn't any fault of my own.

I thought when I got rid of my ex, the abuse would never happen again...but today I feel so mentally abused. It is as though I am staring Satan right in the face -- again. But, I am not giving in. I am not giving up. I refuse to give Satan the satisfaction of winning a piece of my soul. He might take my bank account. He might take my job, my small victories, and my companionship, the pillow I lay my head on. But He is not going to take my soul or my heart for Jesus.

God, today, I depend on you with all I have. I am yours. It is up to you to make this a testimony that glorifies You. I need You today. I need you right now. Be my strength, my patience, my endurance, my hope. In Jesus' Holy Name I pray, Amen.

Good morning, World: I just need Jesus

Good morning, World!

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. It is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it! Each new day is a chance to start over, and with each door closed, God opens another.

Praying that God blesses my day with the abundance of life promised me by my Saviour Jesus Christ!

I don't need riches and I don't need gold, I just need Jesus, and me for Him to hold!

Have a blessed day, World!

Today's Prayer: Part of YOUR Will

Dear Lord, please help me to remember that just because others don't acknowledge me, YOU know the integrity and origin of my heart. And, though others may not like how I handle situations because it's not what they would do, YOU are One I should seek my validation from. Help me resist being "part of the crowd" and empower me to be a part of Your Will.

In Jesus' Holy Name I pray,
Amen

Today's Prayer: What have I accomplished?

Dear Lord, please help me to understand that my dependence on you is a blessing, and that my success and accomplishments in life are the by-product of that dependence. I am nothing without You, Lord. I know this from the deepest fibers of my being, (which YOU created).

Help me to be content with what I have, and what I am, so that every thing added to me is a bigger blessing that I will not with-hold from my service to YOU.

In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray, Amen.

With-holding nothing...

You should never take ANYTHING for granted, because God will take it from you when you do! There is NOTHING He can't with-hold from you if He feels it is in your best interest, or that it will bring you closer to HIM.

And, there is nothing I will with-hold from Him because of it!

Kinks and Swirls

I love it when people want to put their two cents worth in about my life and say, "If you'd do this, or if you wouldn't do that..."

It amuses me. I look at them as if they are aliens, because what they suggest for me is so out of my world. I can't help but smile when they tell me, "You can't get there from here..." because I am already closer to "there" than they are, or they think I am.

"Maybe you shouldn't (do this or that)" when what I am doing is working just fine for me. A few little "kinks" and "swirls" now and then, but even that seems to be working for me.

When they tell me "You can't" I just say,

"Watch me."

What at DAY!

WHAT a DAY! I go to work, and I am ALL prepared. Everything went SOOO smooth (even though I was an hour late getting off work). Got off work thinking, "God is SOOO good!"

Took my co-worker home, then went and picked up my friend Dallas to drive to church. Didn't even stop at home. Had to get to prayer service!

THEN, on the way, we stop at the stop sign. Look both ways. Go. My car shifts out of first gear with a big BUMP. Uh OH. 2nd Gear BUMP.

hmmmm. Transmission fluid low?

Get to church, open the hood, check it, the stick is dry. I call my step dad and ask him if he will help me out. I'm off work tomorrow. I don't have money for anything right now, until Thursday and I am not driving my car in this shape that long. I plan to drive the car home and let it sit until I can get Transmission fluid, but I don't feel comfortable even with that, and I need to get Dallas home, too.

Sister Kristie offered to drive Dallas and to follow me home if necessary. A couple of guys dug around in the back of his truck and found some Transmission fluid. I gave him one of my plastic bottles I use to carry tea in for a funnel. Everything is good. I call my step-dad and tell him never mind.

THEN, I get home and there is water all over the floor. I thought Milo must have peeed all over the house. But that was a LOT of water. Upon closer inspection I notice there is water dripping off my kitchen table. I look up at the ceiling...run out and get the apartment manager, who is NOT in a good mood!

She sees the problem and runs to get her plumber. They come back and unclog the air conditioner hose in the ceiling.

I am just now starting to relax after cleaning up the mess.

But, hey, God is STILL SOOO Good!

WHEW.

Being Single in a Couple's World as a Christian

This was posted at God Inspires on March 26, 2015

by Shonda Ponder

I sat there listening to Christian Talk Radio which hosted a question and answer show about daily life as a Christian. This last question about a woman who recently lost her husband and is considering dating again made me feel ... odd.

On the show, they made the statement that "This is a couples world, and although there are a lot of single people out there, the overwhelming desire of singles is to have someone to 'belong' to, i.e. the desire for marriage."

I am not desiring to "belong to" anyone but God and I certainly am not looking forward to ever getting married again at this point. Does that make me strange?

Sometimes I feel like Christian teachings try to PUSH marriage and dating on people by making them feel inadequate if they don't. It's just WRONG.

Paul was content being single.

THIS is why I cringe at the notion of going to singles ministries. They are all focused on how one should act in a dating relationship. They have FAILED to address those of us who are desiring to wait on GOD's Timing, and need to focus on being SINGLE and content about it. .

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:

6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

This is addressing those who are consumed by their desires, who have not mastered the ability to focus solely on God as their provider, their friend, and their endearing other half. Those who cannot contain themselves in the presence of the opposite sex SHOULD marry. But those who can are blessed in that they focus on the things of God and not on pleasing another human being:

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

So where are the ministries that ENCOURAGE being single?

This article in Crosswalk.com makes my point about Christian Single's Ministries focusing on marriage. Although, ONE sentence in the article does make MY point:

"After all, every Christian’s first responsibility is to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness "

This statement is over-ridden, however, in the rest of the article. I find this unfortunate:

How can I find out who God wants me to marry?

We need more articles that PRAISE being single, that PRAISE singles who are looking for their sustainability in a God who keeps their heart from loneliness and distraction from HIM.

When all else fails, call MOM

A co-worker asked me if I would give her a ride home, since the busses are not running due to the sleet. She offered me $10. I told her she didn't have to pay me THAT much. She insisted.

We got out to the parking lot, and lo and behold, my windows are froze over, my wipers won't work because they are frozen, and it took FOREVER for the heat to get warm. The defrost wasn't working with the sleet still coming down, down either.

She gets this bright idea to pour bottled water on the windshield. No, that didn't work either. So, we're sitting there...waiting..."At this rate," I thought, "it will be dark before I get home."

What do I do? I call mom.

"Mom, I'm stuck in Wadley Parking lot, there is ice on my windshield and I can't see out of it. It's on ALL my windows. And I don't have an ice scraper. And, my wipers are frozen."

What advice does mom give me?

"Use your badge."

DUH. Why didn't I think of that? We hang up and I get out of the car. My co-worker asks, "What did she say?"

"She said 'Use your badge.'"

"Will that work?"

"I'm fixing to try."

In less than 5 minutes, we are on the road. LOL

Moral of the story: When all else fails, call MOM.

Humbling Thanksgiving

When we become thankful for every breath we take, every bite we eat, and every step we take...when we praise God even when we feel He is far away because, somehow, we pushed Him there...when we hope in spite of all doubt and fear that threatens to overtake us, and when we refuse to deny His love, His power, and His Sovereignty, even after we have found it difficult to talk to Him...

He will reach down when you least expect it and touch you in such a way that you have no recourse but to fall on your face, humbled, overwhelmed, and overjoyed, giving Him the Praise that your heart has with-held, and having faith stronger than ever that He is who He is.

Thank you, Father.

Moral Support and Encouragement

I have become acutely aware that there are some people in this world who want nothing more than to see you fail, to stay down, to wallow in your filth. Those are people that I try to stay away from, because, if they can, they will do whatever they can to impede your progress.

The reason they are the way they are is that they do not like to be proven wrong. They have already made assumptions about you and your life, and in their tiny little brains, they have determined that that is the way it should be. When you prove them wrong, and rise above their expectations of you, it makes them feel ashamed and embarrassed.

Nobody likes that. So, don't be one of those people. Don't assume the worst in people. Don't be negative. The Bible teaches that we are supposed to raise people up and rejoice in their accomplishments as we keep pushing them forward. Moral support goes a long way in the Kingdom of God.